Landscape-scale spatial heterogeneity in phytodetrital cover and megafauna biomass in the abyss links to modest topographic variation

Morris, Kirsty J.; Bett, Brian J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4977-9361; Durden, Jennifer M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6529-9109; Benoist, Noelie M.A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1978-3538; Huvenne, Veerle A.I. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7135-6360; Jones, Daniel O.B. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5218-1649; Robert, Katleen; Ichino, Matteo; Wolff, George A.; Ruhl, Henry A.. 2016 Landscape-scale spatial heterogeneity in phytodetrital cover and megafauna biomass in the abyss links to modest topographic variation. Scientific Reports, 6. 34080. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep34080

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Abstract/Summary

Sinking particulate organic matter (POM, phytodetritus) is the principal limiting resource for deep-sea life. However, little is known about spatial variation in POM supply to the abyssal seafloor, which is frequently assumed to be homogenous. In reality, the abyss has a highly complex landscape with millions of hills and mountains. Here, we show a significant increase in seabed POM % cover (by ~1.05 times), and a large significant increase in megafauna biomass (by ~2.5 times), on abyssal hill terrain in comparison to the surrounding plain. These differences are substantially greater than predicted by current models linking water depth to POM supply or benthic biomass. Our observed variations in POM % cover (phytodetritus), megafauna biomass, sediment total organic carbon and total nitrogen, sedimentology, and benthic boundary layer turbidity, all appear to be consistent with topographically enhanced current speeds driving these enhancements. The effects are detectable with bathymetric elevations of only 10s of metres above the surrounding plain. These results imply considerable unquantified heterogeneity in global ecology.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1038/srep34080
ISSN:	2045-2322
Date made live:	04 Oct 2016 14:13 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/514048

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1038/srep34080

ISSN:

2045-2322

Date made live:

04 Oct 2016 14:13 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/514048